The New York-born musician led an active career as a player, teacher, composer and administrator

Brehm

American double bassist, conductor and composer Alvin Brehm has died at the age of 89. The New York-born musician was a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He also made guest appearances as a double bassist with the Guarneri, Budapest, Lenox, and Manhattan Quartets, the Jacques Thibaud Trio, and many other ensembles.

As a composer, he received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, and the Naumburg Foundation, and commissions from the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, St Paul Chamber Orchestra, American Brass Quintet, Y Orchestra, and Philomusica.

He was also chairman of the NEA Chamber Music and New York State Arts Council Music Panels, and Dean of Music at the State University of New York, Purchase.

Brehm sailed a 31-foot sloop named Big Fiddle and built his own furniture. He is survived by Alison, his wife of 37 years, and his sons, Jon and Marco.

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